TKMD Rwanda opens advanced AD syringe manufacturing plant in Rwamagana District

RWANDA—TKMD Rwanda, a subsidiary of Anhui Tiankang Medical Technology from China, has set up a manufacturing facility for auto-disable(AD)  syringes in the Rwamagana District.

This facility, developed in partnership with the Gates Foundation, is pre-qualified by the World Health Organization (WHO) and has the capacity to produce up to one million syringes each day.

This marks the second auto-disable syringe production plant in East Africa, following Kenya’s Revital Healthcare EPZ, which received WHO prequalification for its syringes in February 2024.

TKMD Rwanda plans to work with UNICEF to distribute these syringes to various African countries, aiming to cut costs and delivery times.

The factory is also expected to create more than 100 job opportunities, with 80% of the workforce being women, thereby improving healthcare access and overall quality.

In December 2024, TKMD Rwanda received WHO prequalification for its auto-disable syringes, marking it as Rwanda’s first WHO-prequalified syringe product and showcasing Africa’s growing capacity to produce essential medical supplies locally.

These syringes are designed to automatically disable after a single use, which helps prevent reuse and reduces the risk of cross-contamination during immunization efforts.

They will be supplied to UNICEF for vaccination programs across the continent, playing a vital role in preventing the transmission of blood-borne diseases like HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.

Sub-Saharan Africa needs approximately 500 million auto-disable syringes each year for routine immunization programs.

Historically, the continent has depended heavily on imports from Asia, which can take several months.

With an annual production capacity of 300 million units, TKMD Rwanda aims to supply affordable syringes for immunization programs across Africa, significantly decreasing reliance on imports.

TKMD Rwanda is already supplying its products to countries like Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Malawi, with plans to help meet part of Africa’s annual demand for 1.2 billion syringes.

 The factory’s advanced safety features ensure effective immunization while minimizing the risks associated with syringe reuse.

Speaking during the launch, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, Rwanda’s Minister of Health, highlighted the significance of local manufacturing facilities.

He recalled the difficulties encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic when Rwanda successfully received vaccines but faced a shortage of syringes for administration.

He emphasized that such facilities not only address local needs but also lend support to neighboring countries, thus bolstering regional health security.

The establishment of TKMD Rwanda also marks a significant step forward for the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda FDA), which achieved Maturity Level 3 in its regulation of medicines and vaccines in 2023, as acknowledged by the WHO.

Dr. Nsanzimana expressed his hopes for the Rwanda FDA to reach Maturity Level 4, the highest ranking in the WHO’s Global Benchmarking Tool for regulating medicines and vaccines.

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